The Talent

Dan Isbell-Acoustic-Electric Guitarist-Vocals

Dan Isbell has been around music since he was a child. He grew up playing guitar at age 10 and found himself performing with his father and sister in the early 80’s to the 90’s. Playing music from Bluegrass, the Ventures, Country, Oldies and Classic Rock.

Dan is currently in another music project, “Gravel Road”. This band started in 1990 and has several original songs Dan wrote and produced himself. Gravel Road still performs today with the core of the original members.

Dan's extraordinarily wide range of vocals, allows him to sing the likes of Garth Brooks, Elvis, Lynard Skynard, Brooks and Dunn, George Strait, the Eagles & Stevie Ray Vaughn, etc.

Equally extraordinary, are Dan's distinctive style of acoustic/electric guitar sounds, progressions, and licks, that makes a guitar “talk” with emotion, while you feel the passion behind the song. Dan is a multi-talented musician with a love for music, family, unity and keeping it fun. Blue Steel is proud and so fortunate to have Dan as part of our family.

Robert DiMeglio-Piano-Keyboardist-Vocals

Inspired by artists like Elton John, Bruce Hornsby, and Ray Charles, Robert became a self-taught piano player, learning to play by ear while living in Pine Mountain CA. Although he does not read music, he can read and write chord charts with the ability to learn any type of music.

In 2008 Robert started playing in a group called, “Missing Pages”, a duo, consisting of an acoustic guitar and himself, playing for small clubs. In 2010, he joined “Open Range”, a Classic Rock, Country band that also played small venues. During this period he was invited to join a second band, “Gravel Road”, focusing on Country, Blues and Classic Rock, adding a much-needed quality sound that really rounded off this already talented group of musicians.

Robert left Open Range to play full time with Gravel Road in 2011. While playing for Gravel Road, Robert wanted to put together a band that was unlike all others. He discussed this idea with Dan Isbell and Dave Massey from Gravel Road, and “Blue Steel” was formed, allowing the band to play everything from Standards, Blues, Rock and Country…everyone’s personalities gelled and it became an instant success, focusing on fun. “The members of Blue Steel renewed my passion for music and a desire to write" says Robert…"the bizarre thing was, I knew everyone was talented, I didn’t realize just how insanely talented the other members were, until we held our first rehearsal.” Blue Steel went on to record at ASR (American Sound Recording) studio October 27, 2012 and recorded their first CD, consisting of cover tunes. Roberts piano and keyboard talents are some of the main signature sounds in Blue Steel & Gravel Road. Robert was a natural in the studio as in his live performances and puts his heart and soul into his music whenever he performs.

Dave Massey-Bass Guitar-vocals

Dave grew up in Central California and was influenced mainly by the music of the Rock and Roll movement of the 60’s. Accomplished on guitar by his teens, he formed his own band and quickly became adept at playing and singing. Dave had no way of knowing that a 1971 recording session at Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, Ca. would have a lifetime effect on him to make music.

Today, his bass playing could be described as smooth and steady with a low groove that locks-step with the band. "The main issue is I love to play bass guitar," says Dave. "The craftwork in learning the subtleties of the instrument is a lifelong endeavor".

It can easily be said, Dave has not only learned the craftwork and subtleties he was so passionately driven to, he’s perfected them. Dave is truly the “anchor” of Blue Steel, and he continues to impress us with his ability to fit any style of music, with unbelievable licks. To say Blue Steel was lucky enough to have Dave join with us, would be an understatement.

Gene Towle has been drumming and singing in Kern County for the last 16 years. The bands include:

Ruckus, Wild Blue Rose Band, Joe Walla, and the Dangerous Men, Honky Tonk Truckers, The Stampede Band, The Gravel Road Band, and Open Range Band. He played the Crystal Palace for 11 years with The Stampede Band. During that time had the opportunities to open for several artists like Buck Owens, Dwight Yoakam, Willy Nelson, Brad Paisley, Loretta Lynn, Wade Hayes, Daryle Singletary, George Jones and Garth Brooks( Statue Dedication outdoor concert when he proposed to Trisha Yearwood )

Gene has also had the pleasure of playing with great musicians in his two most recent bands, The Gravel Road Band and The Open Range Band. The two bands had such great chemistry. There was no denying that he felt these were the musicians that could come together to form a great band.

He would also like to recognize and remember, Rich Valpey, a great guitar player and singer that played in both bands and was taken from us too early. Gene has an amazing voice. He is a great lead Vocalist has Great harmonies. Gene is a multi-talented Vocalist and Drummer in country music classic rock and oldies. You name it He probably knows it.

Genes love of music started at a very young age and will continue for the rest of his life.